<notforsyndication>Watch Ireland Under-20 v Italy live on RTÉ Two and www.rte.ie/live (IoI only) on Friday, 1 February, from 7.30pm.</notforsyndication>
Coach Eric Elwood has named his first Ireland Under-20 team for this year's RBS Six Nations Under 20 Championship.
There are no survivors from last years Under-20 Grand Slam winning side as the Elwood and Dan McFarland coaching ticket start with a fresh group of players for their opening game in Dubarry Park against Italy this Friday.
The side will be captained by openside Paul Ryan, who also captained the Ireland Under-19 team during the Under-19 World Cup that was held in Belfast last April.
Commenting on this weekends game, Elwood said, 'The continuing cycle of underage rugby has meant that this years squad are all totally new to this level, but they have pulled together extremely well over the last number of weeks in our camps and practice games.'
'Playing Italy at any level offers a real physical challenge and this Friday will be no different. We have ability across the team, but our first goal is to gain a foothold in the game in the physical stakes and then progress from there.
'Playing in Dubarry Park and starting the championship there is another big plus for us with the great support we always receive in Athlone.'
Ireland Under-20 team: Niall Morris, David Kearney, Eoin O’Malley, Eamonn Sheridan, Chris Cochrane, Martin Dufficy, David Moore, Paul Karayiannis, Stephen Douglas, Ben Barclay, David Nolan, Eoin Sheriff, Kieran Essex, Paul Ryan, Patrick Mallon
